by James Natsis » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:01 pm
The seekers of France seeped in its traditional stereotypes of Sartre and the Rive Gauche, Edith Piaf, Francois Truffaut, le Citroen 2CV, etc. may be somewhat disappointed. And this may even include meticulous attention to traditional cuisine. Piaf and Brel have given way to the sounds of Stromae, Indila, and Maitre Gims. The artsy films of yesteryear have given way to hugely successful Intouchables ($450 million worldwide) , Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu?, and other immigrant themed cinema. And the sacred culinary traditions are not immune to the influences of globalization, technology, and an ever changing population due to immigration.
But the music and cinema scenes have never been more exciting in France, the country that serves as a meeting point for the French-speaking world. This is a very diverse calling! All that said, the breads, pastries, cheeses, wines, and other "everyday" foods are still so incredibly good in quality and freshness that, in my experience, trumps average eating experiences in the US.
Oui, mes amis, the foodie traditionalists may have to search harder, but us folk who enjoy couscous, Vietnamese, gyros, baguette sandwiches, etc. may just enjoy the culinary experience in France a bit more while enjoying "Papaoutai" playing in the background.
James J. Natsis